Our understanding of various viral infections has been founded
on the ability to accurately and precisely measure viral RNA in
peripheral blood. The availability of reliable, standardised
quantitative viral RNA assays with broad dynamic ranges has
permitted the accumulation of a vast amount of information towards
establishing prognosis and assessing the effectiveness of antiviral
drugs in reducing viral load. In addition, the predictive value of
this molecular information for subsequent clinical endpoints is now
overwhelming. Consensus guidelines to consider in treating infected
individuals using this molecular marker of infection have been
drafted adn have begun to appear in the literature. The baseline
viral level as determined by Quantitative PCR, as well as the
duration and magnitude of viral load changes, are parameters that
merit closer scrutiny.